One of my favorite things about reading is finding an author who just ~gets you!~ They know what you like, and they deliver. Cue Rainbow Rowell – who I will refer to simply as Rainbow because we're totally on a first name basis and it's just a cute freakin' name.

I've read a couple of Rainbow's books now, including Landline and Eleanor & Park, and I recently finished Fangirl just before starting up Attachments. Can you tell I like her work? One of the things I enjoy so much about Rainbow's writing is how real it is. How you can't help but feel like you know her characters on an intimate level. Like you know their whole lives, not just the parts covered in 200 or so pages. There's a strong sense of reality in her works of fiction that is missing in many other books.

There is nothing crazy or overly dramatic about this plot, like many of those in Rainbow's books. Instead, her stories are much more like life: chugging along until a few major moments shape what comes next.
As one Goodreads reviewer so aptly put it: "Whether you find yourself in the insecure girl who's afraid of life; the happy-go-lucky guy always ready with a smile; the self-centered sister; the deceitful friend; the emotionally disabled dad; the outspoken, honest roommate; the talented but uncertain writer; the intellectual or the one who falls short; the life of the party or the one hiding in the shadows — there are bits and pieces of everyone scattered throughout this story; representing all the highs and lows that make us exactly who we are." 

I recommend Fangirl (and any of Rainbow's books) to anyone who is looking to get caught up in someone else's story, and to anyone who wants to smile and laugh out loud while flipping through the pages.

One of the things that inspired me to become a professional public librarian is that I want to work directly with members of the community and make a difference in their lives. It may sound silly, but being told "You're a lifesaver" for helping a patron locate a book, make photocopies or even attach a document to an email can be quite rewarding — not to mention the whole encouraging people to develop a lifelong love of literacy and learning thing!

Libraries are great, and they can be incredibly beautiful, but without the dedicated people who work there, libraries just wouldn't be nearly as special — which brings me to the point of this blog post: The 2015 I Love My Librarian Award.

In some way, shape or form, librarians touch the lives of the people they serve every day. Help recognize your librarian's hard work and effort! Online nominations run now through September 28.

But being that I'm particularly interested in working in a public library's youth services department and I didn't take any online classes this summer (I probably should have), I've assigned myself some fun homework until the fall semester begins: Read some of the most popular contemporary fiction for middle grade and high school students. I'm generally going to be reading more young adult books because, as I've said many times before, I LOVE YA! But I'll definitely also revisit a few classics stories that I read (or wish I had) in my younger days.

Why not start this summer reading shindig off with a bang? My first self-inflicted assignment was to finally read one of the the biggest book-turned-movie successes since Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings: The Hunger Games. And all I have to say now is I finally understand what the fuss was all about.

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed the first book so much and am about to fly through the second one is because of Collins' ability to create such a strong and dynamic female main character that young girls everywhere needed (and still do) so badly. Katniss Everdeen is the definition of badass. Not only is she strong physically and mentally, her emotional strength yet simultaneous vulnerability can't help but make you fall in love with her (I get you, Peeta). As if to prove how awesome and beloved Katniss is, the amount of girls who took up archery skyrocketed following the release of the books and movies. I'm not at all shocked, but I know from high school gym class that archery is not my strong suit. I'll stick to reading and writing.

With themes like politics, wealth, technology, violence and love, The Hunger Games has a little bit to offer everyone. I already have Book II checked out from the library, but have to finish rereading To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman before I return to Panem. I've never seen the Catching Fire movie either, so I'm in for some surprises, I'm sure! May the odds be ever in my favor!

Now, obviously when a book generates as much buzz as The Hunger Games did, it is probably well worth your time to read the books and watch the inevitable movies. But why wait? You're not proving anything to anybody by holding out. The only person missing out from your choice not to read something is you (and maybe the author). Don't make the silly stubborn mistake I did and avoid a book because everyone else is talking about it. It's not like you have to like it. In fact, you might hate it! But it also might win you a bunch of money if you ever get on Jeopardy!

There are many reasons the book's release is so highly anticipated, but the top two are probably because Lee hasn't published a book since 1960, and To Kill a Mockingbird has made such a strong impression on readers and critics alike. The mysterious Harper Lee has largely remained out of the spotlight since her first book's initial success, but people want to hear more from the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, and 55 years later — they finally will be.

While it's not sure what critics will have to say about the book, there's no question that it will be widely read. Some worry that Go Set a Watchman won't be able to live up to its high expectations, but considering that to Lee, this was the original story of Scout & Co., I have a pretty strong feeling it won't disappoint. At least I sure as heck hope not!

The reservation list for Go Set a Watchman is climbing rapidly at libraries and bookstores across the country, and according to The Guardian, the book is now the most pre-ordered book in publisher Harper Collins' history. As one CNN article explains, the book's massive pre-release demand speaks to the public's interest in a story that has been left up to readers to finish.

"'It's possible Go Set a Watchman will turn out to be a great work of literature," LA Times reporter Steven Zeitchick told CNN. '"But it will have some awfully stiff competition. Few books can outdo the one we've written in our minds.'"

It's sad to say that I've heard "I haven't read an entire book since high school!" too many times to count while working at Community Library. And while I think it would be great, awesome, refreshing and every other positive adjective for high school English classes to require some more contemporary titles, who can pass up a great classic? Surely not me!

When I came across an article called What Your Favorite Book From High School Says About You, I couldn't help but see if my favorite high school read made the list. And it sure did — in the number one spot. Here's what my favorite book from high school says about me, at least, according to guff.com.

While "most people find you easy going and charming" is ~obviously and totally~ true, I'm not at all hung up on my exes, and my lifestyle surely isn't extravagant. I paged through the rest of the list to see how many of the other mentioned titles I had already read, and which descriptions seemed the most relatable to my life. Turns out Fahrenheit 451 comes closest, even though I technically read that bad boy way back in 8th grade (Thank you Mrs. Wagner)!

Also mentioned in the article are The Scarlet Letter, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, The Crucible, The Odyssey, Lord of the Flies, almost anything by Shakespeare, The Awakening, Heart of Darkness, To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye. Is one of these titles your favorite high school read? Find out what your favorite book says about you!

PS: The description for Catcher in the Rye made me laugh out loud!

I was watching HGTV the other day (well ... most days) and it featured a married couple looking to buy a new house for many reasons, including the fact their bedroom was also serving as an office. I can't imagine trying to get work done in the same room as my big comfy bed, just beckoning me to climb under the covers and stay a while. Sure, my napping rates would increase dramatically, but my quality of sleep would actually be much lower, according to various sleep centers.

You see, people need separate places to do different activities — and I'm not just talking about work and sleep. Allow me to introduce you to a concept of third places and how they make public libraries an even more necessary place to spend your time.

According to an article in Psychology Today, "Third places are where people congregate other than work or home. England has pubs, France has cafés, and Austria has coffee houses." But what about the United States? I mean we have Starbucks, where everyone is over-caffeinated and too eager to pounce on an available electrical outlet, and we have a plethora of bars, but what about people who don't drink? 

In his book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg explains that third places all share common features:

• They are neutral, meaning people can come and go without penalty
• They are level, meaning everyone there is equal
• Conversation is the main activity in third places
• Third places are accessible — no reservation needed!
• Third places have many trusty regulars
• Third places are unpretentious
• The dominant mood of a third place is playful

Boy, these third places sure are sounding an awfully lot like public libraries ... am I right?!

Third places play a critical role in attracting and keeping a creative and innovative workforce. Whether you're in need of help with a research project, looking to learn a new skill or hobby, or if you're in the market for a new book, your local library is the perfect third place to spend your free time. I promise it will be fun for you and good for your head! 

PS: I certainly won't be doing work in my bedroom any time soon, but there's no way I'm giving up reading in bed. It's a great way to unwind at the end of a long day, and it's an even better excuse to lay in bed a little longer the next morning!